Onward and inward for the New Burke

Onward and inward for the New Burke

Construction of the New Burke Museum is really coming along! It is nearly 65% complete. The Kebony exterior siding, which is intended to weather from a rich brown color to gray, is almost entirely installed and work will soon move inside the building.

Siding on the New Burke on June 5, 2017.Photo: Burke Museum

Siding on the New Burke on July 1, 2017.Photo: Burke Museum

Siding on the New Burke on August 31, 2017.Photo: Burke Museum

Late last month, the Washington State Legislature ended its 2017 legislative session without passing a capital budget. As the State Museum of Natural History and Culture, the Burke worked with state legislators throughout the past two years to secure the necessary funds for construction of the New Burke.

Without a capital budget, it looked like construction of the New Burke would have to pause. But the community’s message was loud and clear—they wanted this project to move forward. With the community’s support, the Burke was able to secure a bridge loan from the University of Washington, which allows us to continue construction while we wait for the state to pass a capital budget.

Check out the most recent time-lapse video to watch how the building looks more and more like the Coast Salish structures that inspired it with each Kebony panel put in place.

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Similar to the “inside-out” vision for the New Burke experience, we hope to provide a glimpse into the two-year construction of the New Burke Museum. Visit the New Burke Project page for answers to common questions about the project. The Burke Museum is open during construction of the New Burke! Plan your visit today.